• Energy Research

Low-to-medium temperature fluid reservoirs hosted in carbonate rocks are some of the most promising and unknown geothermal systems. Western Sicily is considered a key exploration area. This paper illustrate a multidisciplinary and integrated review of the existing geological, geochemical and geophysical data, mainly acquired during oil and gas explorations since the 1950s, specifically re-analyzed for geothermal purposes, has led to understanding the western Sicily geothermal system as a whole, and to reconstructing the modalities and particular features of the deep fluid circulation within the regional reservoir. The data review suggests the presence of wide groundwater flow systems in the reservoir beneath impervious cap rocks. We identified the main recharge areas, reconstructed the temperature distribution at depth, recognized zones of convective geothermal flow, and depicted the main geothermal fluid flow paths within the reservoir. We believe that our reconstruction of geothermal fluid circulation is an example of the general behavior of low-to-medium enthalpy geothermal systems hosted in carbonate units on a regional scale. Due to the recent technological developments of binary plants, these systems have become more profitable, not only for geothermal direct uses but also for power production.

Construction of this dataset is described in the peer-reviewed publication: Calcagno, P., Trumpy, E., Gutiérrez-Negrín, L.C., Liotta, D. A collection of 3D geomodels of the Los Humeros and Acoculco geothermal systems (Mexico). Sci Data 9, 280 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01327-0 The geomodel is available in the form of the following files and formats: Metadata sheet description pdf format GeoModeller project format PDF3D format TSurf format VTK format {"references": ["Calcagno, P., Trumpy, E., Guti\u00e9rrez-Negr\u00edn, L.C., Liotta, D. A collection of 3D geomodels of the Los Humeros and Acoculco geothermal systems (Mexico). Sci Data 9, 280 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01327-0"]}

Construction of this dataset is described in the peer-reviewed publication: Calcagno, P., Trumpy, E., Gutiérrez-Negrín, L.C., Liotta, D. A collection of 3D geomodels of the Los Humeros and Acoculco geothermal systems (Mexico). Sci Data 9, 280 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01327-0 The geomodel is available in the form of the following files and formats: Metadata sheet description pdf format GeoModeller project format PDF3D format TSurf format VTK format {"references": ["Calcagno, P., Trumpy, E., Guti\u00e9rrez-Negr\u00edn, L.C., Liotta, D. A collection of 3D geomodels of the Los Humeros and Acoculco geothermal systems (Mexico). Sci Data 9, 280 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01327-0"]}

This report deals with the activities and results achieved by the seven Joint Activities established in the course of the Geothermal ERA-NET with a minor effort on human resources and financial support. The activities were planned and coordinated as working groups participated by the project partners, and produced survey reports and/or workshop Minutes. FP7

Abstract. As part of the GEMex Project, an on-going European-Mexican effort to develop geothermal energy from non-conventional sources, preliminary geological models have been constructed for two sites located in the easternmost region of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The first site, Los Humeros, which has produced geothermal electricity for decades, is investigated for its probable superhot geothermal resources. The second site, Acoculco, is a less known but promising area where application of an Enhanced Geothermal System is being studied. In order to have a coherent geological interpretation of both sites, preliminary 3-D models were constructed in a collaborative manner by European and Mexican partners. These models are based on data available at the start of the project, including geological maps, cross-sections and well logs. The data were mainly provided by the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), and the Mexican Centre for Innovation in Geothermal Energy (CeMIE-Geo consortium). A regional model was developed for each site and an additional local model was constructed for Los Humeros. The preliminary geological models serve as a framework for GEMex work on heat-transport and fluid-flow simulations; they will be updated and refined during the project, using new data and interpretations from ongoing and future field work on geology, geophysics, and geochemistry.

The objective of this work is to define best practices in the management of geothermal exploration data. This study builds on a questionnaire to survey the geothermal data management practices in mature geothermal markets. The inquiry targeted public Regulatory entities with overview of geothermal resources as well as public and private developers. Topics covered in the questionnaire range from the country status to the database set up. The questionnaire focused on the specifications, usage and investments required for installing/maintaining information systems capable of managing exploration data. In addition, information on the different regulatory frameworks and company policies for managing/sharing exploration data has been gathered to identify the requirements imposed on the design of information systems. The responses were analyzed to identify commonalities in data management practices. They reveal that installing an Information System (IS) is the best practice to systematically and securely manage exploration data. They also provide recommendations with respect to the regulatory framework, data types, data collection methodologies, data storage, data quality control, data accessibility and dissemination, IS architecture, financial investments and human resources required to develop a state-of-the art IS. These results will guide the design of future technical assistance programs for beneficiaries of World Bank support to geothermal exploration activities and it is our belief that they will be beneficial for the geothermal sector at large.

A description of the state-of-the-art concerning geothermal data and tools used for the management and sharing them is a sine qua non for the key task of 3.2 within Work Package 3 - Towards a European Geothermal Platform - in the framework of the Geothermal ERA-NET. This is line with the objective of WP3 is to complete the preliminary work required for the creation of a European Geothermal Platform with the purpose of sharing harmonized and systematic information on legal and regulatory aspects, policies, measures, institutions, research projects and datasets. FP7